COLUMBUS - A steady offensive attack by the Columbus State University men's basketball team was too much for Georgia College to handle on Monday with the Cougars picking up a 75-59 win. The Peach Belt Conference game took place inside the Lumpkin Center in Columbus.

After a back-and-forth game in the early going, the Cougars used a 7-0 run to open a 26-19 advantage late in the first half. Georgia College pulled within three (29-26), but the Cougars scored the final four points of the period to take a 33-26 halftime lead.

In the second, CSU (13-9, 8-6 PBC) slowly inched away. By the 13 minute mark, the Cougars held a 10-point advantage before cruising to the 16-point victory. 

"This was an important game for us," commented head coach Robert Moore. "This week is going to be critical for our season and to begin it this way was huge."

"You have to give credit to the guys. It was a balanced effort and everyone pitched in."

Four Cougars scored in double-figures led by Landrius Horton's 19. The senior was 6-for-7 from the free throw line while tallying six rebounds and three steals. Hunter Preston had another solid performance with 16 points after a 5-of-8 shooting night. Anthony Moore (12) and Bryant Givens (10) were the other double-digit scorers. 

As a team, CSU shot a respectable 44.1 percent (26-for-59) but was just 2-of-15 from three. Columbus State was excellent from the line going 21-for-23 (91.3%). 

Columbus State will have a short turnaround hosting North Georgia on Wednesday, Feb. 12 inside the Lumpkin Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. UNG defeated CSU 80-65 in mid-January. 
 

Play-by-Play

First Half

The two sides came out exchanging blows with the lead changing hands four times over the first 10 minutes of play. Georgia College (9-13, 6-8 PBC) held a 12-7 lead before seven straight Cougar points gave CSU a 17-15 advantage at the 9:55 mark. Preston was the igniter with two 3-point plays after drawing fouls on successful layups. In a 19-19 game, Jalen Thomas hit a floater in the lane that began another 7-0 run that put the Cougars in front for good. After GC pulled within three (29-26), CSU scored the final four points of the half to go into the locker room ahead 33-26.

Second Half

Georgia College hung around in the game until the first media timeout. Up 40-35, Columbus State took its first double-digit lead of the day thanks to back-to-back buckets from Moore and a free throw by Horton. GC had a successful and-one, but a dominant stretch by the Cougars put the game away. A deep Givens 3-pointer began a 19-3 CSU run that ballooned the lead to 24 (65-41) with under eight to go. Preston and L. Horton both had rim-shattering dunks off steals to add to the Cougar momentum. The Bobcats never made a serious run at the lead falling to the Cougars for the second time this season

 

Inside the Numbers

• It was Columbus State's first double-digit win since Jan. 18 against Flagler (95-74). • L. Horton and Preston both had 10 points in the first half. • Givens had a team-high eight rebounds and six assists. The guard also had two blocks. • Columbus State tied a season-high in blocks with six. • The Cougars won the rebounding margin 45-33. At halftime, CSU had only 16 boards. • It's just the second time this season that Columbus State failed to make four or more 3-pointers. • It was the fourth time this season that the Cougars shot over 90 percent from the free throw line. • Monday was the 80th meeting between Columbus State and Georgia College. The Cougars lead the series 53-27.